Executive Board

Susan Willoughby BA (Hons) ACA Chief Executive

Susan joined the charity in 1999 as acting Finance Director and was appointed Chief Executive in January 2000. Since that time the charity has expanded considerably to meet the ever-increasing demand for care services.

Susan is a Chartered Accountant and spent a significant part of her career in financial services, having been Chief Executive of the Chartered Building Societies Institute, overseeing its merger with the Chartered Institute of Bankers in 1993.

Simon Bird MRICS Property Director & Deputy Chief Executive

Simon Bird is Property and Business Development Director at Care South.

Simon is a Chartered Surveyor who was a Director of Healthcare Consultancy with Pinders for 15 years before joining Care South in September 2011. Simon is responsible for Care South’s developing portfolio of residential and nursing homes, assisted living developments and home care services across the south of England. Originally from Bristol, he also has a degree in Estate Management. Prior to joining Pinders he spent seven years with Property Consultancy GVA Grimley (now GVA).

Penny Sargeant ACIS Company Secretary

Penny is an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, having qualified in 1991 whilst working for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

Since she joined Care South in 1993, the organisation has grown significantly, as has her role in supporting the board of directors and the company with legal and administrative support.

Graham Brittain CQSW, PGDip. Director of Residential Care Services

Graham joined Care South in January 2015. He is a qualified Social Worker and has a background at Director level in a variety of health and social care service organisations in the private and charity sectors including Bupa, Care UK, RNIB and previously within a number of SME’s. He is a Board Member and Trustee of The College of Social Work.

Carolyn Collins BA (Hons) Director of Domiciliary Care

Carolyn is the Director of Domiciliary Care at Care South. She has over 25 years of commercial business and accountancy experience, gained from a variety of sectors, and has previously held a Directorship of an international manufacturing and retail company.

Carolyn chose to leave the commercial world in favour of the not-for-profit sector in order to make a positive difference to people’s lives. She joined Care South in 2001. Carolyn believes that she has succeeded in this ambition by using her skills at Care South to facilitate the delivery of innovative, accessible, quality home care at affordable prices.

Simon Jenner BA (Hons) FCA Finance Director

Simon joined Care South in July 2016. He is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years post qualification experience, operating at Finance Director level since 2005.

He has built up extensive commercial and financial management experience within the private sector, including over 15 years within the paints division at AkzoNobel where he held a number of UK and International Directorships. Simon relocated to the South Coast in 2013 and held the post of UK Finance Director for International Packaging Group Huhtamaki, before joining Care South.

Maggie Searle Director of HR and Training

Maggie joined Care South in October 2017. Maggie has extensive HR Executive and Management experience, gained in a variety of sectors including defence, energy services, blue chip, retail and more latterly property management (residential & retirement) and child care services.

Head Office and Training Centre, 39 Commercial Road, Poole, Dorset BH14 0HU tel: 01202 712400
Care South is a leading provider of residential and home care across the South of England
Registered Charity No. 1014697